Valley of Flowers

When the altitude begins to increase, you start expecting snow and other related natural phenomena. Wait, you are jumping the gun because there still is a range of altitude in between as well where you can expect a wide range of flora in all its natural splendour that will stun you with its beauty. Let's go towards the interiors of Garhwal Himalayas where there is a valley spread in an area of 87.5 sq km located between the altitudes of 3250 to 6750 meters. It is surrounded by snow capped mountains and is among the most unusual protected reserves of India. Here you get to see a region which is naturally carpeted by some of the rarest of the flowers in every conceivable hue and variety.

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Discovery of the Valley
The Valley of Flowers is situated in the upper expansions of Bhyundar Ganga at Uttaranchal. You'll find the mention of this visually rich valley even in the ancient Indian texts such as Ramayana and Mahabharata as well as Indian history. There was a time when the valley had almost disappeared from the tourism map because of its near inaccessibility. It was in 1931 when a British mountaineer Frank S Smith discovered it during his expedition to Mount Kamet and it was appropriately named as Valley of Flowers by him. The place is actually a natural bouquet of lively flowers which was declared as a National Park in 1982.


The Route to the Valley
To reach the Valley of Flowers, the trek starts at Govind Ghat. The picturesque valley and myriad other attractions such as wild flowers, springs, water falls and rocky boulders become visible from Pulna onwards. Camping and overnight stay in the valley is not allowed therefore you will have to stay at Ghanghria overnight which also serves as your base camp. After Ghanghria you'll have to walk, there is no other option as the ponies are not allowed afterwards. The river Pushpawati flows through the valley that divides it into two sections whereas the other streams serve the purpose of irrigating the valley. There is only a single track in the valley through which you can see the flowers. If you want to get closer, you'll have to rub your way through the foliage but the trouble will be worth it. There are several new valleys being formed here as well because of the streams of the glacier water that flow through the valley.


Accommodation
Since you won't be allowed to stay overnight at the Valley of Flowers, you'll have to look towards nearby places for the accommodation options which will not disappoint you though. There are several rest houses and tourist lodges at Joshimath and Ghanghria most of whom cannot be termed as luxurious yet they provide adequate facilities.


Best Time to Visit
The months of July and August are the best as the snow melts by this time and the valley happens to be in full bloom. If you cannot find time in these two months, try to make it between the months of June and October. It is that time of the year when the weather also happens to be at its most pleasant.


How to Reach
Well, you'll have to trek for a distance of about 17 km to reach here. Joshimath in Garhwal is the nearest town from where the railheads such as Haridwar and Dehradun, which are about 270 km away, can be easily accessed. You can hire vehicles from Joshimath that will leave you at Gobind Ghat. From here, a trek of about 14 km brings you to Ghanghriya which is the nearest settlement from the Valley of Flowers.

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